Dear Hayden,

Today, you are two years old! Here are the highlights: You talk about everything, you can count to twelve, and you are learning lots of nursery rhymes and songs. You love to swim, dance and read (you love Curious George!). Your favorite foods are every kind of fruit, eggs, pizza and macaroni and cheese. You love birds and being outside. You love being with other kids, too. You also very recently learned to ride your trike. Most of all, you are so joyful! You laugh and smile all the time — and it is totally contagious! We are so lucky to have you for a little girl!

Love you,
Mama

Dear Hayden,

Today we went to visit Grandma Holly, who is one very special lady! We call her Grandma Holly because she is a grandma to everyone in our church family. She prays and prays and prays for the people of our church, and about 3 years ago, she started praying for you – praying that you would be knit together, fearfully and wonderfully made. Then, when I told her you were on the way, she started praying that you would grow strong and arrive healthy. Dad and I credit Grandma Holly with praying you into existence. She loves seeing you and she is always amazed at how you have grown. We’re forever indebted to Grandma Holly, and others like her in our church family who intercede for us and commit to speaking their own faith into our future. There is a chance you won’t remember meeting Grandma Holly, and I feel very strongly about you knowing how special she is!

Love you,
Mama

You and Grandma Holly

Dear Hayden,

Tonight, Dad took you to a baseball game with a friend from work and his little guy, Mikey. You had a fantastic time! Here are some pictures.

Love you,
Mama

Checking out the seats

Watching pitching warm-up

Baseball food

You and Mikey

Dear Hayden,

Today you went and played with Elijah. While you were there, the two of you decided to play a duet! You are TWO, TOO cute!!

Love you,
Mama

Dear Hayden,

Today was unusual in that we don’t usually get rain here! It poured all morning, and you kept asking to go outside. Finally, Dad and I said it was okay and you danced in the rain in your pajamas! You had a great time and did not want to come back inside! Grandma and Jiddoh are here this weekend, too, so you have had a great time watering the plants with Grandma and filling Jiddoh’s pockets with your toys! I love these days because although there is nothing planned, you have a great time just living your life!

Love you,
Mama

Dear Hayden,

We are having some awesome evenings in the backyard now that summer is coming to a close. We have had some great family time just hanging out lately. It’s so fun to be together.

Love you,
Mama

Dear Hayden,

You’ve been having a great time with the doggies in your life lately. You love Emmie’s dog, Sassy. Whenever I tell you we are going to see Emmie, you start saying, “Sassy! Sassy!” Also, we volunteer at After the Bell on Fridays, and there is usually a little puppy there named Dexter with whom you are in love! It’s a neat thing to see you amazed by animals.

Love you,
Mama

You, Emmie and Sassy

You and Dexter

Dear Hayden,

Tonight we took some underwater photos of you — proof that you have been doing some super swimming!!

Love you,
Mama

PS – This is your 200th blog entry! I can’t believe how fast you are growing!

Dear Hayden,

For about a year now, you have had a special friend — Meggy. You even call her “My Meggy” and everything! Well, Meggy started her “real” job last week, so we have seen a lot less of her! You keep saying, “My Meggy!” and I keep trying to explain that Meggy has to go to work so she can’t spend as much time with you as she used to! She is so good to you — she willingly watches you whenever she can, and she absolutely adores you! We know Meggy is going to be a great teacher, but we sure do miss having her around! Thank goodness we get to see her every Sunday at church!

Love you,
Mama

You and Meggy

Dear Hayden,

Today Hannah Jane is spending the day with us. You love this because she is your BFF!

Love you,
Mama